527 Watch: James Dobson Plays Defense

13.10.2008

It looks like the Family Research Council (FRC) has finally chosen a candidate. Just one month ago, on September 12, James Dobson's organization started a political action committee and pledged to spend a modest $250,000 backing "pro-family" congressional candidates--but not John McCain. At the time, FRC Action PAC President Tony Perkins had the following to say about the GOP nominee:

"At this point, we do not plan on endorsing a presidential candidate or ticket. We're not a huge PAC yet and to make a dent, even, in that effort would take a lot of money. ... There are still lingering concerns over some of John McCain's positions."

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and FRC Action is taking Obama to task for supporting the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would codify Roe v. Wade, in a large swing-state ad buy. (As Ben Smith notes, the charge is accurate.)

Two things have changed since then: One, James Dobson officially ended his simmering feud with John McCain in a recent radio broadcast--owing mostly to McCain's selection of Sarah Palin. And two, it looks as if Dobson has been shocked to action by liberals poaching on evangelical turf. The pro-Obama group Matthew 25 has been running these spots on God-friendly channels in Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, knocking honchos like Dobson off balance. (Amy Sullivan's book The Party Faithful explains how Democratic operative Mara Vanderslice--who now heads Matthew 25--pioneered this kind of liberal outreach to evangelicals, which was completely unheard of as recently as 2004.) "We are responding directly to the Matthew 25 campaign--running TV and radio ads in the same markets targeted by Matthew 25," one FRC source says to David Brody.

Indeed, FRC Action's president says the Council decided to start a PAC because, "By registration Christians are becoming more independent. Some folks in the political process have confused what it means to be a values voter. They've asked, ‘What do values issues mean?' We hope to help cut through some of the clutter."

--Barron YoungSmith

Posted: Monday, October 13, 2008 6:18 PM with 2 comment(s)

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fougasseu said:

I'm not familiar with Matthew 25, but I am familiar with another Matthew. Yesterday was the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder in Colorado. I wish Dobson would open his heart to the millions of gays and lesbians who call themselves Christian. I wish he'd have more compassion and tolerance for those he disagrees with, less passion for partisan politics.

October 13, 2008 7:27 PM

cspencef said:

I believe the group's title refers to the concluding portion of Matthew 25, the parable of the sheep and the goats, the payoff of which is that (paraphrased) "whatever you've done to the least of these my children, you have done unto Me" (that would be God, or Christ, not me personally). Dobson would not do very well these days by a putative Matthew 25 test.

It is rather amusing to see the Dobson junta's shocked--shocked!--reaction to the news that some evangelicals may not be toeing the party line. "Why, horrors! Thinking independently? How dare they. Next thing you know they might start reading their Bibles on their own. We can't have that--they might figure out it doesn't say what we say it says. Time to put a stop to this right now." These guys really do seem to be aping the Luther-era Catholic church at times...

October 13, 2008 11:21 PM